scholarly journals Distance Learning Perceptions from Higher Education Students—The Case of Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 374
Author(s):  
Sónia P. Gonçalves ◽  
Maria José Sousa ◽  
Fernanda Santos Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Academic Year

This research study examines the attitudes of Portuguese higher education students regarding compulsory digital and distance learning university courses during the second semester of the academic year 2019–2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology was quantitative, being the undergraduate and postgraduate students surveyed to find their perceptions about distance and online education in Portugal. The findings of the study highlighted the relationship between distance and online learning. The key concern of the respondents is related to the formal and contextual dimensions of the online class regime. The values examined, taken as a whole, allow us to conclude that with this teaching regime, in terms of awareness, there is acceptance and benefit. The sense of ambiguity in which this transformation took place, as well as the climate surrounding this phase, are worth noting. The teaching and evaluation methodologies used have been embraced and show a very wide range of choices on the part of the teaching teams and the students’ various interests, just as in the teaching regime of the classroom. The fact that students feel the need for face-to-face classes, however, is of great importance for practical and laboratory classes. This reality, which is a challenge to face in the future, is hard to overcome.

scholarly journals Attitudes of Postgraduate Students Towards Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: North Cyprus Example

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeşim Üstün Aksoy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
North Cyprus

The distance education model has become the most common educational model used around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in China at the end of 2019. In North Cyprus (NC), traditional face-to-face education had been resumed through online channels. The rapid shift to online channels has not only caused distress among students who do not have experience with using in online education systems, but also caused many problems to surface in terms of access to education. This study aims to explore the attitudes and views of higher education students in NC regarding the distance education implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020–2021 educational year. In this quantitative study, the survey method was used. A random sampling approach was used for determining the study group, which was formed of 470 volunteer higher education students. According to the analysis of the data collected from the students, it was determined that they received an average score of x̅=82.52±19.50 points from the overall Attitudes Regarding the Use of Distance Education Environments During the Pandemic (ASRUDEEDP) scale, x̅=23.03±7.21 from the competence and education sub-dimension, x̅=26.36±5.81 from the practicality sub-dimension, x̅=18.20±4.83 points from the efficiency sub-dimension, and x̅=14.93±4.12 from the satisfaction sub-dimension. It was identified that there were no differences in the scores according to the age group, grade, or Internet use durations (p>0.05) but the scores of male students were observed to be higher than those of female in the sub-dimensions of competence and motivation as well as practicality within the ASRUDEEDP.

scholarly journals Online learning - Global Challenges and Opportunities for Students in Higher Education amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Libyan Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
Abdelbasit Gadour
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Changing Times ◽  
High Level

The spread of COVID-19 has had psychological effects on higher education students globally reflected in high level of anxiety associated with worries of failing to complete their studies (Holmes et al., 2020; Sawahhel, 2020). Due to COVID-19 all universities in Libya were closed for ten months causing a massive impact and leaving about quarter a million students without education. However, during this period some universities took preventive measures and maintained functioning from a distance. An attempt was made in this study to explore higher education students’ attitudes toward online learning and appreciate more the advantages and challenges associated with online learning. Of the 100 questionnaires sent out to university students, 58 responded back of whom 40 undergraduate and the remaining postgraduate students. The results of this study suggested that students are more interested in conventional way of learning in favour of face-to-face communication with tutors and peers as opposed to remote learning. For online learning to be successful in Libya, universities ought to upgrade their educational mode of delivery making the learning contents and assessment more desirable and responsive to the needs of the changing times. Furthermore, students must be technically and financially supported with unlimited access to internet.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19: a study among higher education students in Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Ferreira Alves ◽  
Catarina Samorinha ◽  
José Precioso
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Preventive Behavior ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Preventive Behaviors ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Predictive Variables ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education ◽  
Academic Year

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about COVID-19 among Portuguese higher education students.Design/methodology/approachIn May 2020, all students from a Portuguese University were invited to participate in completing an online questionnaire. A total of 262 students participated. COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes toward COVID-19 and preventive behaviors were assessed. Differences between outcomes and sociodemographics were analyzed through independent t-tests and the ANOVA. A generalized linear model was calculated to determine the predictive variables of preventive behaviors.FindingsStudents revealed good knowledge about COVID-19, correctly answering 13.06 (SD = 1.25) questions in a total of 14 and favorable attitudes toward preventive behaviors (M = 32.73, SD = 2.88). Students reported always engaging in, on average, 5.81 (SD = 2.61) of the 12 behavior analyzed. Females presented higher levels of knowledge, more positive attitudes and engaged in more preventive behaviors than males. Being a bachelor's (Exp (β) = 8.213, 95% CI: 1.791–37.670, p < 0.01) or a master's degree student (Exp (β) = 7.568, 95% CI: 1.598–35.835, p < 0.05) and having positive attitudes toward preventive behavior of COVID-19 predicted the adoption of those preventive behavior (Exp (β) = 1.340, 95% CI: 1.189–1.510, p < 0.001).Originality/valueThis study provides useful data to plan health education programs about COVID-19 among higher education students. The continuous investment by universities in preventive campaigns is essential to promote good preventive behaviors in the next academic year.

scholarly journals EU27 Higher Education Institutions and COVID-19, Year 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5963
Author(s):  
Sónia Rolland Sobral ◽  
Natacha Jesus Silva ◽  
Abílio Cardoso ◽  
Fernando Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Scientific Production ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Management Staff

COVID-19 forced higher education institutions to reinvent themselves. The (usually) face-to-face education has swapped to distance contingency education. This change brought about numerous challenges that impose adjustments in several dimensions, such as pedagogical strategies and the dependence on teaching platforms and computer systems—and, above all, the new relationship between the various actors (students, teachers, and management staff). All the sudden changes, combined with uncertainty concerning what was happening, created several strategies and options. This paper has the main purpose of analyzing the scientific production on higher education of EU27 academic institutions during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in journals indexed in Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science and Elsevier’s Scopus. The sample is composed of 22 articles in total. The results show that the articles were published in 19 journals; their main focuses are Higher Education, COVID-19, and distance learning. In our database, we find several types of concerns, which shows that HEIs have a wide range of dimensions. We intend this article to be an instrument, not only to identify what was done in 2020, but to point out clues for the future.

scholarly journals Distance Learning under the Covid-19 Conditions within Architectural Education

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emel Unver ◽  
Asli Sungur
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Architectural Education ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
Academic Year

Distance learning is one of the means of education used in various levels, from primary school to college. However, distance learning in architectural education differs from other disciplines, as architectural education is design-based with predominantly applied courses. As the spring semester of the 2019/20 academic year had to continue online due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it remained uncertain whether or when face-to-face (FtF) education will start till the end of the term, the necessity to focus on online education suddenly raised in architectural faculties. This study aims to start a discussion on how to proceed with online architectural education, focusing on quality, defining the fundamentals, and proposing suggestions within this scope. In order to achieve this aim, research on the evaluation of the existing distance learning platforms of universities, the differences between the implementations of theoretical and applied courses, the advantages and disadvantages of the process are made. For this purpose, a comprehensive literature review on universities that provide fully online, hybrid and conventional (FtF) education throughout the world is conducted, given and discussed in the paper. After the research on ongoing processes, a case study to determine the experiences, opinions and approaches of students and academic staff with the scope of emergency remote teaching is designed and conducted. Together with the findings of the review and the case study, the challenges, strengths and opportunities of online architectural education are discussed and evaluated with a focus on maintaining and raising the quality of the education. In conclusion, suggestions and proposals are made and presented to be applied and developed in architecture faculties’ future online education experiences.

scholarly journals Closure of Educational Institutions due to Covid-19: Study on Higher Education Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.N. Yeshaswini
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The Government

The Covid-19 pandemic is not only distressing the health of people but is also seen hampering various industries and sectors across the world. In India, the government as a part of the nationwide lockdown has closed all educational institutions, as a result, school to postgraduate students are affected. This disruption during the middle of the academic semester for higher education students forced them to adopt online classes to complete their syllabi. This study examined the challenges and constraints faced by higher education students during online classes. The results of the study found that respondents did not find online classes effective, they faced technical issues and constraints, including internet connectivity, voice quality and lack of interaction. Respondents usually have access to limited data plans, many of them sharing the same network with family members working from home. However, online education appears to be need of the hour for educational institutes, to retain their connect with the students and ensure continuous learning though technical challenges may persist for a while.

scholarly journals Students’ pre and post COVID-19 perception of Higher Education switch to online: An exploratory study in Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 2368-2377
Author(s):  
Carlos António Alves dos Reis ◽  
Maria Simões ◽  
Maria Flores-Tena
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Teaching Mode ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Many ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education

The corona virus crisis has exposed the many inadequacies and inequities in our education systems. This article aims to contribute to the understanding of the relation between the pandemic caused by COVID 19 (SARS-COV 2) and the changes experienced in Higher Education (HE), namely the shift to online teaching mode. The research used a survey questionnaire to collect data. The study focuses on a Portuguese Higher Education institution (HEI). Institutional teacher’s performance indicators regarding quality assessment system were used, referring to the 2nd semester of 2018-19 until the 1st semester of 2019-20.  The total number of pre-Covid19 students who participated 227 . As to the post-covid19, 288 answered the questionnaire. Overall, the “U of Mann-Whitney test” has found no differences between the two moments, pre- and post-Covid19. Hence, results seem to indicate that the student’s perception of the lecturer’s performance was not affected by the regimen shift from face-to-face to online. Keywords: COVID-19; Higher Education; Students’ Perception; Online teaching performance.  

scholarly journals Dealing with Hazing: Are There Different Profiles of Higher Education Students?

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
Osvaldo Dias Lopes Silva ◽  
Suzana Nunes Caldeira ◽  
Maria Mendes ◽  
Susana Botelho ◽  
Maria José D. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Scale Evaluation ◽  
Behavioral Variables ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to understand the kind of relationship that students from two Portuguese higher education institutions – the Portalegre School of Health Sciences (ESSP) and the University of the Azores (UAC) – have with hazing and whether there are profiles of students associated with different types of relationship with hazing. Data were collected through the scale ‘Evaluation of Bullying Situations in Higher Education Hazing’. The findings obtained using appropriate statistical techniques, exhibit significant differences between the ESSP and the UAC, with students from the ESSP displaying a better relationship with hazing. They also showcase appreciable differences in the relationship with hazing between the ESSP and the UAC depending on personal, academic and behavioral variables. The findings finally indicate that, at each institution, the profile of students who express a better relationship with hazing differs from those who distance themselves from this ritual in terms of personal, academic and behavioral variables.  

scholarly journals A ADAPTAÇÃO A CONTEXTOS DE ENSINO A DISTÂNCIA POR ESTUDANTES SENIORES DE UMA INSTITUIÇÃO DE ENSINO SUPERIOR PORTUGUESA, NUMA CONJUNTURA PANDÉMICA

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Sara Mónico Lopes ◽  
Isabel Beato ◽  
Luisa Pimentel ◽  
Cezarina Maurício
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Lifelong Education ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Face ◽  
Online Activities ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education ◽  
Academic Year

RESUMOA pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 colocou grandes desafios às instituições de ensino superior (IES), e o Politécnico de Leiria não ficou imune a esta crise. Num contexto em que a educação ao longo da vida faz parte das agendas políticas nacionais e internacionais, as instituições de ensino superior portuguesas têm vindo a reconhecer a importância desse paradigma, proporcionando momentos formativos e de partilha intergeracional para públicos diversificados. Com este artigo pretende-se perceber o processo de adaptação a contextos de ensino a distância pelos estudantes de uma formação sénior - o Programa 60+, do Politécnico de Leiria -, perante a situação pandémica. A partir de um estudo de caso, de contornos descritivo-exploratório, procuramos refletir sobre os processos de mudança de um sistema de ensino tradicional e presencial para a utilização de metodologias de ensino e aprendizagem suportadas por ferramentas digitais. Participaram no estudo 35 estudantes seniores inscritos no 2º semestre do ano letivo 2019/2020. Concluiu-se que a maioria dos respondentes sentiu dificuldades na adaptação ao novo contexto que se impôs de forma inesperada. Mais de metade não participou nas atividades a distância e afirma preferir as atividades presenciais. Dos que participaram nas atividades a distância, a maioria não sentiu dificuldade no acesso às plataformas e na utilização das ferramentas digitais, o que permite evidenciar a importância da formação neste domínio. Resultados que vão ao encontro das orientações nacionais e internacionais para a adoção de estratégias que promovam a literacia digital.Palavras-chave: Educação ao longo da vida. Ensino a distância. Seniores.ABSTRACTThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic posed major challenges for higher education institutions (HEIs) and the Polytechnic of Leiria was not immune to this crisis. In a context in which lifelong education is part of national and international political agendas, Portuguese higher education institutions have been recognizing the importance of this paradigm, providing training and intergenerational moments of sharing for diverse audiences. This article intends to understand the adaptation process to home online schooling by students of a senior training - the Program 60+, from the Polytechnic of Leiria -, in the face of the pandemic situation. Based on a descriptive-exploratory case study, we seek to reflect on the process of changing from a traditional and face-to-face teaching system to the use of teaching and learning methodologies supported by digital tools. Thirty-five senior students, enrolled in the second semester of the academic year 2019/2020, participated in the study. We concluded that most subjects experienced difficulties in adapting to the new context that was imposed upon themselves unexpectedly. More than half did not participate in the proposed online activities and claim to prefer face-to-face activities. The majority of those who participated in the online activities did not experience difficulties in accessing the platforms and in the use of digital tools, which highlights the importance of training in this sort of learning. These results are in line with the national and international guidelines for the adoption of strategies that promote digital literacy.Keywords: Lifelong education. Distance learning. Seniors

scholarly journals Blended Learning in Pronunciation Classroom for Higher Education: Students’ Perception

E-Structural ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (02) ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
Al-Fisyar Tiara ◽  
Sukma Nur Ardini ◽  
Dyah Nugrahani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
English Education ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Learning Material ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Education Department ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Academic Year

Abstract. With skyrocketing development of online learning due to the Covid-19 outbreak, pronunciation classroom is one of the evidences that was quite affected by this pandemic situation. The controversial mindset, that this lesson needs literally face-to-face practices since they relate to organ speech's output, leads the authors into this investigation. This paper was aimed at finding out students' response toward the implementation of blended learning in pronunciation classrooms. The research design was descriptive quantitative with the population of 176 fourth semester students of English Education Department of Universitas PGRI Semarang in the academic year of 2019/2020, and 28 students coming from 4A to 4D were taken as the sample. The data were collected online through Google Form using a perception questionnaire and confirmed by phone call interview preceded by classroom observation. The data from the questionnaire were then analyzed quantitatively to determine the level of students' perception supported by descriptive data from the interviews. The results indicated that students' perception toward blended learning in the Pronunciation classroom was in the level of intermediate. Additionally, the interview revealed that the students were satisfied with blended learning implementation in Pronunciation classroom. They preferred online classes which were balanced in terms of assignment-giving and learning material. Too many assignments with fewer materials only burden the students. Therefore, the lecturers were suggested to consider their ability in handling the class, which also interests students in engaging the online classes more.Keywords: blended learning; pronunciation, higher education, students' perceptionAbstrak. Pesatnya perkembangan pembelajaran online akibat dari wabah Covid, kelas pronunciation sebagai salah satu bukti yang cukup terpengaruh oleh situasi pandemi ini. Pola pikir kontroversi, bahwa pelajaran pronunciation benar-benar membutuhkan praktik tatap muka karena berkaitan dengan luaran speech organs, sehingga mengarahkan peneliti ke permasalahan ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui respons mahasiswa terhadap penerapan blended learning di kelas pronunciation. Desain penelitian adalah deskriptif kuantitatif dengan populasi 176 mahasiswa semester IV Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Universitas PGRI Semarang tahun ajaran 2019/2020 dan diambil sampel 28 mahasiswa dari 4A sampai 4D. Pengumpulan data dilakukan secara online melalui google form menggunakan kuesioner persepsi dan dikonfirmasi dengan wawancara melalui telepon yang didahului dengan observasi kelas. Data dari kuesioner dianalisis secara kuantitatf didukung oleh data interview yang dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa persepsi mahasiswa terhadap blended learning di kelas pronunciation berada pada level intermediate. Selain itu, hasil wawancara menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa merasa puas dengan penerapan blended learning di kelas pronunciation. Mereka lebih menyukai kelas online yang seimbang dalam hal pemberian tugas dan materi pembelajaran. Terlalu banyak tugas dengan materi yang lebih sedikit hanya akan membebani mahasiswa. Oleh karena itu, para dosen disarankan untuk mempertimbangkan kemampuannya dalam menangani perkuliahan yang juga menarik minat mahasiswa untuk lebih banyak terlibat dalam kelas online.   Kata kunci: blended learning; pronunciation, pendidikan tinggi, persepsi mahasiswa

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